Goodna residents say they don’t need another KFC – especially one that would come at the expense of a historic home.
There has been strong community reaction to the news that a Brisbane developer lodged plans with the Ipswich City Council to relocate a century-old property.
Parmac Property Group submitted a development application in early July to build the new fast food outlet on a 2033sqm lot at 16 Queen Street, Goodna.
The site includes a house identified in the Ipswich Planning Scheme as a “place of interest“, which was built around 1906 for the parents of Edward Carroll who became a partner in cinema giant Birch Carroll and Coyle, now known as Event Cinemas.
While the application notes the designation was due to the person who lived there, rather than the building itself, the house would be “treated with all due care and respect“ and owner approval had been obtained to relocate it to a property lot in Rosewood, many residents have shared their opposition.
Timothy Carmichael, who lives two houses down from the property, wrote on social media the house was “one of the most beautiful homes in the street“.
“Each time I walk past, I can’t help but stare in awe at its beauty. Goodna once had some very beautiful and quite substantial homes, this is one of the last of them,“ he said.
“This should not be allowed and the Goodna community should stand beside this house and not allow it to be removed from our streetscape.“
Simon Ingram wrote it was “ridiculous, damaging to our heritage and completely unnecessary“.
“The nearest KFC is currently seven minutes away. Have KFC determined that is too far for their loyal patrons to have to travel?“
Another resident, Andrew Mirfin, said it made a joke of protecting heritage listed houses.
“To me that includes the site it was originally built on. By moving t,he house it has no heritage significance anymore.“
An Ipswich City Council spokesperson said the Ipswich Planning Scheme supported the restoration and conservation of Ipswich’s historic places by clarifying council’s planning intent for the reuse, restoration and reconstruction of character places depending on their categorisation.
The spokesperson said Carroll House was listed as an Identified Place of Interest in Schedule 3 in the current Planning Scheme and in this case, the building was not necessarily of significance because of its design, location or its prominence in that particular street, but was of prominence owing to its cultural history, and its connection to a recognisable brand and family.
“The retention of such buildings in their existing location is not mandatory, unlike the more significant categorisation of a Schedule 2 Character Place which calls for protection in their present location,“ the spokesperson said.
The application, which is currently in the confirmation stage and waiting on council approval, says the proposal would positively impact the community by providing employment opportunities at a “highly accessible location that would not challenge the primacy of other major centres“.
Article source: cqtoday.com.au